Adjustable headband construction



March 16, 1948. 3.1.. MALCOM 2,437,748

- ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND CQNSTRUCTION Filed June 11, 1945 Patented Mar. 16, 1948 ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND CONSTRUCTION Robert L. Malcom, Chicago,'Ill., assignorto Chicago Eye Shield Company, a corporation of Illinois Application June 11, 1945, Serial No. 598,848

'2 Claims. (Cl. 29-8) The invention relates to an adjustable headband construction.

An object of the invention is the provision of a headband which is easily and conveniently adjusted to the desired size.

It is among the other objects of the invention to provide a headband having a substantially smooth inner surface, to provide a headband which is adjustable without being removed from the wearers head, and to provide a headband that will remain in its adjusted position until released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a headband utilizing a tension means that socurely clamps the movable portions of the headband into a locked relationship. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a headband utilizing a tension means including a locking portion that enables the tension means to be conveniently operated.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawing appended thereto.

In thedrawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts:

Fig. l is a perspective view or one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional viewln elevation of the headband shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of tension means utilized in the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the headband ll comprises a curved strip 12 having overlapping ends l3 and i l. The end portions l3 and I4 have slots l6 formed lengthwise of the strip. Sleeve I! is positioned around the overlapped end portions l3 and M and provides a substantially smooth inner surface I8 for contact with the wearer's head. Tension means I9 is provided in the headband for adjustment of the overlapped end portions l3 and it within the sleeve ll. Cross piece 2|, adapted to fit over the wearers head, may be utilized with the headband. Cross piece 2| is secured to the sides of strip I2 by fastening means 22. Anchor members 23 may be provided in conjunction with the cross piece 2| for attaching the headband to a helmet or other device with which semi-rigid material such as phenol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde; hard rubber, metaLor-the like. A material that has been found to be particularly suitable for the headband construction is a cured plastic having the mechanical properties of cellulose acetate. The tension means 19 andanchor members 23 may be suitably formed of metal.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tension means I-llcomprises a bolt member 24 and nut member '25. As shown in Fig. 5, bolt member 24 includes 7 asubstantially flat head 26 anda threaded-shank portion 21. The threaded shank Z1 isof sufiicient length to extend through both end portions l3 and M and the outer wall of sleeve I I. The belt member 24 is providedwith a locking portion 28, intermediate of the head 255 and shank 27. The locking portion 28mayconsist 0f awafer-like projection adjacent to the under surface ofthe head 26. The locking portion has a thickness substantially that of a wall of the end portions [3 or 14 whilethe length of the locking portion-28 is greater than the diameter of the shank 21, its width is substantially'the same as the diameter of the shank-2i. The looking portion 28 is adapted to be positioned within at least one of the slots. l6. so that the sides 29 of the locking-portion will bear against the slot walls. The purpose for which the locking portion is provided is to prevent the bolt member from rotating when nut member is tightened on shank 21. Nut member 25 includes threaded portion 3| for engaging shank 21 of the bolt member.

The slots I6, defined by end portions 13 and I4, are of sufficient width to accommodate shank 21 of the bolt member. Where the slots l6 do not extend to the ends of the strip l2, the assembly of the headband is facilitated by providing slits 32 and 33 between the slots 16 and the ends of the strip.

Sleeve I! may be formed of the same material as that of the strip l2 and is of sufficient crosssectional dimensions to conveniently contain overlapped portions l3 and I4. Aperture 34 may be provided in the outer wall 35 of the sleeve to receive nut member 25 of the tension device [9. By making aperture 34 of sulficient size to permit nut member 25 to extend through wall 35 of the sleeve, the clamping action of the tension device 19 is exerted only on the end portions [3 and 14 of strip I 2.

Flange 36 is provided on that portion of knob 25 adjacent the outer wall of the sleeve. The dimensions of dense 36 are such that when knob 25 is tightened against the end portions, flange 36 is close to but out of contact with the outer wall of the sleeve. In this manner, the flange provides a guard against foreign matter entering aperture 34.

In assembling the headband, cross piece 2| and anchor members 23 are secured to strip I2. The end portions I3 and I4 may then be inserted into sleeve I1 in an overlapping relationship and with slots I6 in alignment with each other. Bolt member 24 may then be inserted through aperture 34 and forced through slots I6 so that head portion 26 will be between inner wall I8 of the sleeve and the end portions I3 and I4. Insertion of bolt member 24 is facilitated by forcibly expanding slots I6 to permit the passage of head 25 therethrough. Bolt member 24 is then rotated until sides 29 of locking portion 28 are aligned with the Walls of the slot I6 of end portion I3. Locking portion 28 is maintained within slot I6 by pressure of wall I8 ofthe sleeve.

The headband may also be assembled by positioningbolt member 24 inside of sleeve I1 with shank portion 21 extending through aperture 34. End portions I3 and I4 are then inserted into the sleeve in overlapping relationship and are forced over shank 21 through slits 32 and 33. This manner of assembled is facilitated by forcibly expanding the slits as end portions I3 and I 4 are forced over shank 21.

After securing nut member 25 to shank 21, the headband is adjusted by moving end portions I3 and I4 lengthwise within sleeve I1. Upon obtaining the desired size of the headband, nut member 25 is tightened on bolt member 24, thereby clamping end portions I3 and I4 between head portion 26 and nut member 25. Readjustment of the headband may be effected by loosening nut member 25 and moving end portions I3 and I4 within the sleeve.

One important use of the headband that is contemplated is in conjunction with helmet constructions. Protective helmets for military or industrial purposes may be made more comfortable for the wearer by utilizing the headband embodying the invention.

The above detailed description is given for purposes of illustration and the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A headband which comprises a curved strip having end portions in overlapping relationship, said end portions each having a slot therein formed lengthwise of the strip, a sleeve around the overlapped portions of the strip and having an aperture in the outer wall thereof, and a tension means to clamp the overlapped portions of the strip together in the sleeve, said tension means comprising an inner member engaging one 'of the end portions of the strip and extending through the slots and the apertures in the outer wall of the sleeve and an outer member extending through the aperture in the outer wall of the sleeve in threaded engagement with the inner member and engaging the other end portion of the strip for directly clamping together the overlapping end portions of the strip in the sleeve.

2. A. headband which comprises a curved strip having end portions in overlapping relationship, said end portions each having a slot therein formed lengthwise of the strip, a sleeve around the overlapped portions of the strip and having an aperture in the outer wall thereof, and a tension means to clamp the overlapped portions of the strip together in the sleeve, said tension means comprising a bolt member in threaded engagement with a nut member, said bolt member engaging one of the end portions of the strip and having a shank portion extending through the slots in the end portions of the strip and the aperture in the outer wall of the sleeve, and said nut member extending through the aperture in the outer wall of the sleeve and bearing against the other of said end portions for directly clamping together the overlapping end portions of the strip in the sleeve.

ROBERT L. MALCOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,194,492 Bowers Mar. 26, 1940 2,213,118 Bowers Aug. 27, 1940 2,328,042 Welsh Aug. 31, 1943 

